The dangers of lead pipes in municipal water systems is an issue the United States has been grappling with for nearly half a century. In 2021, the Environmental Protection Agency took steps, under the Safe Drinking Water Act, to require all towns and cities in New York State to conduct and submit an inventory of lead in their respective water systems.
After four years, a missed deadline and what some local officials characterize as spotty communication from the EPA, the Pine Hill Water Commission submitted its lead line inventory on July 18.
According to Robert Drake, Shandaken’s deputy town supervisor, he and town board members sifted through documents from the early 2000s detailing the most recent upgrade of the town’s water system. Of the 165 lines examined, none showed the presence of lead pipes. While the findings represent good news for town residents, Drake raised concerns about the agency’s mandate and how it was carried out.
“We don’t have any lead pipes, and that’s great, and I am slightly embarrassed that we missed (the EPA deadline),” Drake said. “But we are a small town with a handful of people doing a lot of these jobs and a bulletin on a federal website is hard to keep track of.”
Drake continued: “Maybe there was an email (from the EPA). It was uncertain who that would have went to. But the EPA didn’t seem interested in us until they did.”
The deputy supervisor also suggested that Pine Hill was fortunate because, aside from the labor it took to root through old files and put together the inventory, there were no costs attached to the submission. But Drake wondered how the town, with its limited budget, would have been able to pay for the physical discovery and removal of lead pipes in its system if any had been found.
Following the passage of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law in 2021, the EPA earmarked $116 million for New York “to support drinking water improvements.” But Drake said he and town officials weren’t made aware of those funds, and felt a bit “blindsided” when they received a strongly worded warning from the EPA months after they had failed to comply with the inventory mandate.
“It seems odd that this information was not more front facing. We’re trying to do the best thing, but we don’t know what we don’t know,” Drake said. He suggested there may have been a breakdown in communication at the state Department of Health, which works in tandem with the EPA to inform municipalities on issues like this. “The bottom line is, with these big, sweeping mandates, we really do need help,” Drake added.
The Department of Health did not respond to The Overlook’s request for comment.
Some officials say the EPA’s enforcement, while long overdue, has come with an urgency that towns like Pine Hill were unprepared to meet.
“The EPA has known about this problem for 50 years, but now they want it fixed tomorrow?” said Kyle Steen, a member of the Pine Hill Water Commission and a Shandaken town board member.
In response to the criticism, an EPA spokesperson provided The Overlook with the following statement:
“The EPA has provided extensive notice and resources to states, municipalities, and operators regarding the October 2024 deadline for lead service line inventories.
Following the revision of the Lead and Copper Rule in December 2021, the EPA engaged in comprehensive outreach, including official publications, guidance documents, webinars, in-person trainings throughout New York State, and direct communication with state and local agencies regarding rule requirements and timelines.
Additionally, the EPA offers significant funding assistance through programs like the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund, along with technical assistance programs including the Get the Lead Out initiative, to help municipalities manage the costs and logistics of identifying and replacing lead service lines.”
Lead is a particularly toxic substance, and even trace amounts are considered hazardous by the EPA. Exposure can cause behavioral and learning problems, anemia, and slowed growth in children, along with kidney disease and cardiovascular issues in adults. Pregnant women face elevated risks of reduced fetal growth and premature birth.
The federal Safe Drinking Water Act, first passed in 1974, was amended in 1986 to prohibit the use of plumbing materials that were “not lead-free.” The act has been amended several times through the years, culminating in the nationwide lead line inventory mandate in 2021.
Pine Hill’s report includes only the lines installed and maintained by the town. Pipes and fixtures on private property remain the responsibility of homeowners, Steen said.
The EPA’s website offers guidance on how residents can check for lead pipes in their homes.
A copy of Pine Hill’s lead line inventory is available on the Town of Shandaken’s website.
Jim Rich is a reporter for The Overlook. You can reach him at jim@theoverlooknews.com.